LINFIELD FC HAVE made history by appointing the first Catholic captain in the club’s 125-year history, writes Simon Cunningham in the Irish News (print edition).
Midfielder Michael Gault, a fan favourite and the Belfast club’s player of the season last year, takes over the armband from veteran defender Noel Bailie who retired at the end of last season.
Gault’s appointment follows a series of measures taken by Linfield in recent years to combat sectarianism.
The club has traditionally drawn the majority of its support from the Protestant and loyalist community and, until the signing of Dessie Gorman from Shelbourne in 1992, had an unofficial policy which prevented the signing of Catholic players.